The photo taken on May 26 shows the statue of Tunmi Sangbozha who invented the Tibetan script, at Tunda village in Nyemo county, Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

A law to protect Lhasa's ancient villages, effective since June 1, creates a legal basis for the protection of the ancient villages in Lhasa which have a long history and profound cultural value for the Tibetan ethnic group.

The law stipulates the application and identification of ancient villages, protects their sources of funding, and restricts the uses of such villages and their surrounding landscapes. It also introduces a long-term mechanism for the preservation and restoration of ancient villages.

Currently, Lhasa has one famous historical and cultural village, Tunda village in Nyemo county and three traditional villages, Tunda village in Nyemo county, Chikang village in Mozhu Gongka county and Lianba village in Linzhou county.

According to the law, the four villages are being included on the list of ancient villages in Lhasa.

Zhang Hui, vice director of the standing committee of the Lhasa municipal people's congress said that the law will help further improve the historical and cultural protection of the ancient villages, and to develop their tourism industry without compromising their preservation.